“Keepin’ the Pounds Off” Holiday Tips

Once cold weather starts to hit, depending on where you live, you know what that means: the holidays are coming! The biggest and the best ones of the year, as a matter of fact!

For me, the holidays have always begun with Halloween. The thrill of partying all done up in an outrageous costume seems to never lose its appeal, no matter how old you are! I put on my costume, hit the town, and party like it’s 1999! So, each winter, I look forward to Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Eve. I call them “The Big Four”. If you’re not careful during this time, ‘the big four’ can also represent how many pants sizes you’ll go up by the time it’s all said and done! Holiday reveler, beware!

You know that during these next couple months there are going to be wall to wall yummies like cakes, pies, cookies, and lovingly put together, calorie rich feasts! We love that! What is better than hanging out with family and friends while indulging every last taste bud and craving you’ve ever had? Well, instead of just going hog wild this year, let’s figure out how to do it without taking the brakes off completely. Don’t worry, this won’t hurt a bit!

Here are a few little tips to keep you svelte all the way up to the New Year!

• Beware of the bulk item sales

Just because it says you can buy four rolls of cookie dough for the price of two, doesn’t mean you should! Don’t do it!

• Take a designated “off switch” (your good friend who doesn’t drink, smoke or over indulge in anything!) with you to those all out, decadent parties and dinners. A gentle (or loud and annoying) voice in your ear just might be enough to make you not have one more drink. Or piece of cake.
• Get everyone in your house involved in the holiday preparations

Got kids? Put ‘em to work! While some are too young to be in the kitchen cutting up veggies for cooking, they’re never too small to help keep the house clean and company ready! Let them help with decorations, too. No XBox or Sponge Bob Squarepants (for the wee ones) until all chores are DONE! You’ll all burn off some extra calories!

• Try out some of the low fat options while preparing your holiday meals this year. No lard, no real butter, and use the low fat whipped cream instead. You’ll be surprised at how little you’ll be able to tell the difference when you use sugar substitutes instead of real sugar. Find as many tricky little ways as you can to cut down the calorie content of those rich holiday meals. Grandma’s recipe might be the best on the planet, but it’s definitely not the lightest!
• Buy gifts that will get your loved ones moving.

Instead of a new video or computer game, how about good old standbys like A BAT AND BALL, for instance? Will give you a chance to get out there with the kids and get some exercise right along with them. A light up frisbee, whiffle ball or badminton set, a soccer ball…these are all good options. How about some karate lessons for the wife? Careful with that one, though, but still a great idea! And how about that Wii? Think of gifts that will help make your family more active and healthier in the upcoming new year.

These are but a few ideas you can use to help keep all those extra holiday pounds at bay. Try at least two of these this season, and see if it doesn’t make at least some bit of difference. I’m betting that it will! Be merry, be smart and enjoy your upcoming holidays!

–Fitness Diva

The Fitness Diva is a top fitness instructor and personal trainer residing in New York City. http://thefitnessdiva.blogspot.com

Tagged as: Excercise